When you think of New York, a rural setting is not an image that instantly comes to mind but a drive out east to Long Island around North Fork or Mattituck brings about the type of eye-opener that’s equivalent to realizing that not all areas of Brooklyn are unfriendly as most people make it out to me.

As reluctant as I may have been to experience anything other than the bustling crowd I’ve been accustom to in the city, I have to admit that the rural life and the outskirts of New York is a beautiful thing. Where we headed this weekend, there happen to be a warm sun basking on the number of wineries as well as on the local food stand offering seasonal produce near the road and the cool breeze rustling through the trees was a reminder that it was fresh air striking our face and not any type of pollution that we could potentially complain about.

I’m no stranger to rural life. Along with my brother, we lived in El Salvador for 5 years when we were younger and what was anticipated to be a culture shock at first eventually ended up being conventional to the point where this day I am personally grateful to my parents for allowing us to experience what their very own childhood was like and to appreciate it.

Cornfields are not necessarily a routine sight in Brooklyn but when I encounter them, so many wonderful memories about having assisted my grandfather harvest them in El Salvador surges that I feel the experience has made me extremely compassionate person towards people who perform jobs that we’re not use to seeing on a daily basis such as farming. It’s hard work.

These cornfields were a beautiful backdrop to a maze and to the large pumpkin patch field where the entire family took part on an adventure which we hope to continue every year especially for my son as he grows older.